Sensor system for monitoring an object

Abstract

A sensor system for monitoring an object, including at least one first part and one second part, of which one is a sensor module having at least one sensor, and at least one fastener to fasten the first part to the object to be monitored, wherein the first part and the second part are designed to establish a releasable connection between the second part and the first part and wherein one of the parts is equipped with a signaling device, which is designed to detect a release of the connection between the second part and the first part and to produce a signal triggered thereby, wherein the fastening of the first part to the object cannot be released nondestructively in a state in which the connection between the second part and the first part exists.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A sensor system for monitoring an object, the sensor system comprising:
 at least a first part and a second part, wherein the first part or the second part comprises a sensor module including at least one sensor, wherein the first part and the second part are configured to produce a detachable connection between the second part and the first part, wherein the first part or the second part comprises a signal transmitter configured to detect disconnection of the second part from the first part and to produce a signal triggered by the disconnection of the second part from the first part; and 
 at least one fastener to fasten the first part to the object, wherein in a state, in which the second part and the first part are connected and the first part is fastened to the object by the at least one fastener, the fastening of the first part to the object cannot be undone in a nondestructive manner, and 
 wherein the second part is the sensor module and the first part is an adapter configured to connect the sensor module with the object. 
 
     
     
       2. The sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the first part comprises an area with access to the fastener, the access being blocked by the second part in the state in which the second part and the first part are connected. 
     
     
       3. The sensor system of  claim 2 , wherein the second part has at least one of a bulge, a widening, a projection, and an extension that covers the area with access to the fastener in the state in which the second part and the first part are connected. 
     
     
       4. The sensor system of  claim 2 , wherein in the area the first part has at least one through hole passing through the first part. 
     
     
       5. The sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the first part and the second part comprise connection elements that are complementary to one another to produce the connection between the second part and the first part. 
     
     
       6. The sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener is at least one of a screw, a rivet, and an adhesive, that can be undone by at least one of electrically and thermally. 
     
     
       7. The sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening of the first part to the object can be undone in a nondestructive manner in a state in which the second part and the first part are not connected. 
     
     
       8. The sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor system comprises an electric circuit, the electric circuit comprising a circuit loop, at least one section of the electric circuit that is connected with the circuit loop and runs through the first part, and another section of the electric circuit running through the second part, wherein in the state in which the second part and the first part are connected, the section of the electric circuit running through the first part and the other section of the electric circuit running through the second part are connected with one another to close the electric circuit, the signal transmitter being configured to detect an interruption of the electric circuit and produce the signal triggered by this. 
     
     
       9. A sensor system for monitoring an object, the sensor system comprising:
 at least a first part and a second part, wherein the first part or the second part comprises a sensor module including at least one sensor, wherein the first part and the second part are configured to produce a detachable connection between the second part and the first part, wherein the first part or the second part comprises a signal transmitter configured to detect disconnection of the second part from the first part and to produce a signal triggered by the disconnection of the second part from the first part; and 
 at least one fastener to fasten the first part to the object, wherein in a state, in which the second part and the first part are connected and the first part is fastened to the object by the at least one fastener, the fastening of the first part to the object cannot be undone in a nondestructive manner, and 
 wherein the signal transmitter has a sensor element configured to detect undoing of the connection between the second part and the first part, the sensor element being in the form of at least one of a contact sensor, a mechanical button, a mechanical switch, a magnetic element, a piezoelectric element, a piezoresistive element, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, an optical sensor, a temperature sensor, and part of a circuit loop. 
 
     
     
       10. A sensor system for monitoring an object, the sensor system comprising:
 at least a first part and a second part, wherein the first part or the second part comprises a sensor module including at least one sensor, wherein the first part and the second part are configured to produce a detachable connection between the second part and the first part, wherein the first part or the second part comprises a signal transmitter configured to detect disconnection of the second part from the first part and to produce a signal triggered by the disconnection of the second part from the first part; and 
 at least one fastener to fasten the first part to the object, wherein in a state, in which the second part and the first part are connected and the first part is fastened to the object by the at least one fastener, the fastening of the first part to the object cannot be undone in a nondestructive manner, and 
 wherein the at least one sensor of the sensor module comprises at least one sensor element configured to measure at least one of a temperature, an atmospheric humidity, a radiation intensity, shaking, harmful substances, and positioning signals of a positioning system. 
 
     
     
       11. A sensor system for monitoring an object, the sensor system comprising:
 at least a first part and a second part, wherein the first part or the second part comprises a sensor module including at least one sensor, wherein the first part and the second part are configured to produce a detachable connection between the second part and the first part, wherein the first part or the second part comprises a signal transmitter configured to detect disconnection of the second part from the first part and to produce a signal triggered by the disconnection of the second part from the first part; and 
 at least one fastener to fasten the first part to the object, wherein in a state, in which the second part and the first part are connected and the first part is fastened to the object by the at least one fastener, the fastening of the first part to the object cannot be undone in a nondestructive manner, and 
 wherein the system further comprises at least one of a functional element and at least one plug connected with an external sensor, the at least one of the functional element and the at least one plug configured for a detachable plug-and-socket connection with the second part of the sensor system, wherein the first part of the sensor system comprises a recess into which the at least one of the functional element and the at least one plug can be inserted, wherein in the state, in which the second part is connected with the first part, the at least one of the functional element and the at least one plug is blocked in this recess and its plug-and-socket connection with the second part is locked at least when the first part is fastened to the object with the at least one fastener. 
 
     
     
       12. A sensor system for monitoring an object, the sensor system comprising:
 at least a first part and a second part, wherein the first part or the second part comprises a sensor module including at least one sensor, wherein the first part and the second part are configured to produce a detachable connection between the second part and the first part, wherein the first part or the second part comprises a signal transmitter configured to detect disconnection of the second part from the first part and to produce a signal triggered by the disconnection of the second part from the first part; and 
 at least one fastener to fasten the first part to the object, wherein in a state, in which the second part and the first part are connected and the first part is fastened to the object by the at least one fastener, the fastening of the first part to the object cannot be undone in a nondestructive manner, and 
 wherein the signal transmitter is a component of the sensor module. 
 
     
     
       13. The sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter is in the form of a plate or a frame. 
     
     
       14. The sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter comprises a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member and at least one transverse member connecting the first longitudinal member with the second longitudinal member, the sensor module being positioned between the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member in the state in which the sensor module and the adapter are connected. 
     
     
       15. The sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor system comprises at least two adapters, which can alternatively be used as the first part, each of which has a contact surface, the contact surface facing a surface of the object when the respective adapter is fastened to the object to be monitored, the contact surface of a first adapter of the adapters having at least one of a size and a curvature that is different from a size and a curvature of the contact surface of a second adapter of the adapters. 
     
     
       16. The sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one adapter comprises a contact surface that faces a surface of the object to be monitored when the adapter is fastened to the object, a maximum height of the at least one adapter being no greater than a maximum height of the sensor element in the state in which the adapter is connected to the sensor module, the heights being defined as dimensions in the direction perpendicular to the contact surface of the adapter. 
     
     
       17. The sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor system additionally comprises at least one functional module which is configured for a detachable connection with at least one of the sensor module and the adapter. 
     
     
       18. The sensor system of  claim 17 , wherein the functional module and the sensor module each have at least one interface for at least one of the exchange of data and the transfer of energy between the sensor module and the functional module. 
     
     
       19. The sensor system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor system further comprises a locking device, which is configured to lock the sensor module with the adapter in the state in which the sensor module is connected to the adapter, this locking being at least one of blocked and not detachable as long as the sensor module is connected to the functional module. 
     
     
       20. The sensor system of  claim 19 , wherein the locking device comprises at least one movable locking element arranged about the sensor module and at least one receptacle for the locking element provided on the adapter, the functional module being shaped in such a way that in the state in which the sensor module is connected to the adapter it prevents the at least one locking element moving out of the receptacle when the functional module is connected with at least one of the sensor module and the adapter.